Planned changes to V2.1 of the XMLspec DTD

Hi folks-- I've been working on the next rev, V2.1, of the XMLspec 
DTD.  It's just a point release, so there are no backwards-incompatible 
changes from a syntax perspective.  However, if you maintain any 
stylesheets supporting it, you'll want to know about these changes because 
some of them may invalidate parts of your processing and require fixes.

I'd like to get this release out as soon as possible, but if you have an 
important change request that you don't see here, let me know THIS WEEK and 
I'll try to get it in.  (I can always do a V2.2 later.)

Here's the list of changes:

#- Added proto and arg elements.  This supports not only the core XPath 
functions, but also the XPointer extensions.

#- Added function, var, sub, sup, and phrase.  The var element (variable 
text, like "for some node _x_" has been a request for years now.  The sub 
and sup elements were added at the request of the MathML folks.  The phrase 
element is to serve as an "attribute hanger" when no other inline element 
will do.

#- Allowed status and abstract to appear in the opposite order.  This was a 
longstanding bug; the DTD only allowed them in the status/abstract order, 
but in fact the W3C publication guidelines require them in the other 
order.  I will remove the incorrect order in the next major version (V3.0).

#- Updated XLink usage to latest WD, except for the href and source 
attributes.  Because XLink now only has global attributes and not elements 
in its namespace, the "naked" href attribute and the wrongly named source 
attribute used by XMLspec are not in compliance.  I will fix this in the 
next major version (V3.0), but this will cause maintainers of legacy 
documents some pain.  (I'll endeavor to distribute an XSLT stylesheet that 
will update legacy documents as necessary.)

#- Removed the xml:attributes attribute from graphic.  This is no longer 
required/allowed by XLink.  This was a "hidden" fixed attribute.

#- Added common diff attribute.  This attribute is to help you record 
changes directly in the XML source.  (Let me know if you need more details 
offline, or you can wait for the official V2.1 documentation.)

#- Added div5 element.  This was a request from the MathML folks.

#- Broadened content models of publoc, prevlocs, and latestloc.  These used 
to be loc+, and were too restrictive for specs such as XML Schemas Part 1.

I look forward to getting your feedback.

	Eve
--
Eve Maler            Sun Microsystems
elm @ east.sun.com    +1 781 442 3190

Received on Sunday, 27 February 2000 17:02:12 UTC